reconnaissance

noun

re·​con·​nais·​sance ri-ˈkä-nə-zən(t)s 

-sən(t)s

: a preliminary survey to gain information

especially : an exploratory military survey of enemy territory

Examples of reconnaissance in a Sentence

There are two helicopters available for reconnaissance.

They did a reconnaissance of the enemy's position.

Recent Examples on the Web

German defense minister Boris Pistorius said in September that two Russian Luch-Olymp reconnaissance satellites were tracking Intelsat satellites used by the German military. —MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Nov. 2025

State media reported that some units were configured for attack, while others were configured for transport, carrying ammunition and medical kits, and providing reconnaissance and fire support. —Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 5 Nov. 2025

The mission has included maritime patrols by P-8 reconnaissance aircraft and long-range surveillance flights to map trafficking routes. —Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 4 Nov. 2025

Even human intelligence will follow, as visual reconnaissance teams view what is happening in other settlements or try to recruit sources who live and work there. —Literary Hub, 28 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

French, literally, recognition, from Middle French reconoissance, from Old French reconoistre to recognize

First Known Use

1779, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

reconnaissance

noun

re·​con·​nais·​sance ri-ˈkän-ə-zən(t)s 

: a survey (as of enemy territory) to gain information